2010 Peking to Paris Rally

Thanks to Tom Perry and the Des Moines Register for the wonderful article about Fritz and Lang’s Peking to Paris adventure in Sunday’s paper.  Following is a little teaser for the article.  Fritz James and Lang Wightman have been warned about this road trip. Rabid dogs are a possibility in Mongolia. Poisonous snakes and spiders might await. Much of the terrain will be cruel and hostile. Mindful of lurking dangers, James and Wightman plan to leave Des Moines on Friday for China to compete... (more...)

Peking to Paris 1907 (www.pekingparis.com) The original Peking-Paris rally was in 1907.  There were just a few cars and fewer roads.  The story goes that crews used silver bars for currency.  They would shave off sections of bars to pay for food, gas and repairs!  The 60’s Jack Lemon – Tony Curtis movie “The Great Race” was as loosely based on this event. The rally was not run again until 1997.  The 1997 event was so successful that the organizers ran it again in 2007 to celebrate... (more...)

This morning I had the wonderful opportunity to listen in as Fritz and Lang were interviewed by Tom Perry with the Des Moines Register.  Tom dug deep with questions about how Fritz and Lang became friends, possible hostile areas on the route, and safety precautions they planned to take while traveling.  I’ll let you know when the article is published. Lang and Fritz with Tom Perry with the Des Moines Register  (more...)

I have always wanted to experience the silk road and the area around and this is the perfect chance. It’s great to have this to look forward to. We all fill our lives with things that seem important and we set up routines. It feels good to set out on such an adventure and really not know what to expect. I look at it as a positive experience that may give me a new prospective on life. These last few months of preparation have changed my prospective – I really appreciate how fortunate I am.  (more...)